The 49-year-old Chryst had two prior stints as an assistant for the Badgers. Most notably, he was part of the Wisconsin staff from 2005-11, helping the Badgers to five double-digit victory seasons and two Rose Bowls.

While the Badgers look to Chryst for stability, his departure throws Pitt back into uncertainty.

The Panthers will be in the football coach market for the fourth time since Dave Wannstedt was let go after the 2010 season. Since then, athletic director Steve Pederson has hired Mike Haywood, who was fired less than a month after being lured from Miami, Ohio, after being arrested on a domestic violence charge; Todd Graham, who lasted one season before quitting and taking the Arizona State job; and Chryst.

Chryst's level-headed approach provided a needed dose of levity at Pittsburgh after a rocky 13 months prior to his arrival. He said all the right things on the day he was hired, calling the Panthers a "destination" program and volunteering to put a buyout clause into his contract.

Results on the field were mixed. Each of his three regular seasons with the Panthers ended with a 6-6 record, mixing statement wins with puzzling losses.

Chryst lost his first game on the job to Youngstown State in 2012, and then guided the Panthers to a dominant win over then-No. 13 Virginia Tech two weeks later. A loss at Navy was followed by an upset of Notre Dame in 2013.

Pitt began this season 3-0 and was up 10 points at home against Iowa before losing to the Hawkeyes, and a week later to Akron.

There appear to be pieces in place at Pitt, though, for a real turnaround. The Panthers started the year with over 80 freshmen and sophomores on the roster, one of the youngest in the country. That group includes running back James Conner -- who was named the ACC Player of the Year this fall after piling up 1,675 yards and a school-record 24 touchdowns -- and sophomore wide receiver Tyler Boyd.

The school had approached Chryst about an extension before this season and details were never finalized.